I will set down a tale as it was told to me by one who had it of his father, which latter had it of HIS father, this last having in like manner had it of HIS father—and so on, back and still back, three hundred years and more, the fathers transmitting it to the sons and so preserving it. It may be history, it may be only a legend, a tradition. It may have happened, it may not have happened: but it COULD have happened. It may be that the wise and the learned believed it in the old days; it may be that only the unlearned and the simple loved it and credited it.
Chapter I. The birth of the Prince and the Pauper.
In the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him. On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. All England wanted him too. England had so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him, that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad for joy. Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried. Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow; and they kept this up for days and nights together. By day, London was a sight to see, with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop, and splendid pageants marching along. By night, it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner, and its troops of revellers making merry around them. There was no talk in all England but of the new baby, Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, unconscious of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him—and not caring, either. But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.
CONTENTS
1. The birth of the Prince and the Pauper.
2. Tom's early life.
3. Tom's meeting with the Prince.
4. The Prince's troubles begin.
5. Tom as a patrician.
6. Tom receives instructions.
7. Tom's first royal dinner.
8. The question of the Seal.
9. The river pageant.
10. The Prince in the toils.
11. At Guildhall.
12. The Prince and his deliverer.
13. The disappearance of the Prince.
14. 'Le Roi est mort—vive le Roi.'
15. Tom as King.
16. The state dinner.
17. Foo-foo the First.
18. The Prince with the tramps.
19. The Prince with the peasants.
20. The Prince and the hermit.
21. Hendon to the rescue.
22. A victim of treachery.
23. The Prince a prisoner.
24. The escape.
25. Hendon Hall.
26. Disowned.
27. In prison.
28. The sacrifice.
29. To London.
30. Tom's progress.
31. The Recognition procession.
32. Coronation Day.
33. Edward as King.
CONCLUSION. Justice and Retribution.
Notes.
ILLUSTRATIONS
THE GREAT SEAL (frontispiece)
THE BIRTH OF THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER
"SPLENDID PAGEANTS AND GREAT BONFIRES"
TOM'S EARLY LIFE
OFFAL COURT
"WITH ANY MISERABLE CRUST"
"HE OFTEN READ THE PRIEST'S BOOKS"
"SAW POOR ANNE ASKEW BURNED"
"BROUGHT THEIR PERPLEXITIES TO TOM"
"LONGING FOR THE PORK-PIES"
TOM'S MEETING WITH THE PRINCE
"AT TEMPLE BAR"
"LET HIM IN"
"HOW OLD BE THESE
"DOFF THY RAGS, AND DON THESE SPLENDORS"
"I SALUTE YOUR GRACIOUS HIGHNESS!"
THE PRINCE'S TROUBLES BEGIN
"SET UPON BY DOGS"
"A DRUNKEN RUFFIAN COLLARED HIM"
TOM AS A PATRICIAN
"NEXT HE DREW THE SWORD"
"RESOLVED TO FLY"
"THE BOY WAS ON HIS KNEES"
"NOBLES WALKED UPON EACH SIDE OF HIM"
"HE DROPPED UPON HIS KNEES"
"HE TURNED WITH JOYFUL FACE"
"THE PHYSICIAN BOWED LOW"
"THE KING FELL BACK UPON HIS COUCH"
"IS THIS MAN TO LIVE FOREVER?"
TOM RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS
"PRITHEE, INSIST NOT"
"THE LORD ST. JOHN MADE REVERENCE"
HERTFORD AND THE PRINCESSES
"SHE MADE REVERENCE"
"OFFERED IT TO HIM ON A GOLDEN SALVER"
"THEY MUSED A WHILE"
"PEACE MY LORD, THOU UTT
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